by Patty Taylor
The thick wooden window shutters blew open. The bats flapped their wings in a frenzy, screeching as they escaped through open windows. Like an earthquake, the ground trembled beneath their feet. Tables and chairs shook, shelves wobbled, and several glass containers fell, shattering tiny shards of glass all over the floor.
The heavy solid wood door flung open.
Keara turned in time to see a tall figure standing in the doorway wearing a lavish purple robe.
“Please, don’t let me interrupt you, Griselda. Go ahead and finish telling our guest exactly how we’re acquainted.”
Chapter 21
“Bloody hell! I havena’ had a hangover like this since . . .”
Duncan’s fingers traced the outline of a generous gash in the side of his neck. His vision somewhat blurred, he shielded his face from the sunlight with his hand. Through squinted eyes, he thought he spotted Darby. He couldn’t understand what the brownie was saying, his voice muffled by the waterfalls.
Cold liquid sprayed his face. He focused on his belongings cluttered in a pile and Keara’s clothes scattered across the ground.
Bolting upright, he grabbed his forehead and bellowed, “Keara!”
“She’s gone.” Darby’s words became clearer. “Your wound is healin’ fast.”
“Where is she?” He followed Colin’s gaze. Traces of Keara’s footsteps disappeared beside enormous animal tracks. His thoughts raced to the image of her naked body lying beneath him, getting ready to make love to him. ‘Twas the last thing he remembered.
“‘Tis no tellin’ what kind of creature carried her off.” Mounting rage, mixed with panic, raced through his voice.
Colin handed Duncan’s plaid to him and one of Keara’s sketches, a drawing of them both shooting arrows.
He wrapped the material around his waist and clutched the parchment while grabbing his bow from the ground. His attention diverted to her new dress, now ripped to shreds. “I must find her.”
“‘Tis exactly what Gabrielle’s hopin’ for.” Standing on tiptoes, Darby’s hands grasped Duncan’s biceps and soon found himself dangling several feet in the air. “Ye need to calm down before ye do something ye might live to regret.”
Colin grabbed Duncan’s hand, diverting his attention. “I think Darby needs help.”
Duncan studied Darby clutching his arm, hanging on for dear life, and helped lower him to the ground.
“Keara’s the perfect bait for Gabrielle’s trap.” Darby pulled his jacket down around his waist and checked his pockets. “She’ll make sure Keara comes to no harm ‘til she gets the both of ye in her clutches.”
“I can follow the tracks,” Colin offered, swinging his bag of arrows across his shoulder.
“Nay. We dinna need ye to be caught, too.” Duncan placed his hand on Colin’s shoulder. “Darby’s right. We need to come up with a plan.”
“I have a good idea of where Keara is. I have an old friend who lives not far outside of Dunscaith Castle.” Darby frowned, rubbing his chin. “If Keara’s there, Griselda will help her to escape.”
“How can ye be sure?” Duncan glanced at the sky. The sun was beginning to set. “If we’re goin’ to leave, we need to do so soon. ‘Tis gettin’ late.”
“Trust me, Duncan. I’ll bet me own life on it.” Darby reached inside his coat. “Here, stick one of these below yer tongue each night before sunset. It will help calm your beast—for the night at least.”
Duncan accepted the small mint-scented leaves and popped one in his mouth. “Is there nothin’ ye dinna carry inside that shabby coat of yers?”
“I wish I carried yer cure.” Darby picked up a stick and wiggled his pointed ears. He began outlining a map on the ground and made an X. “‘Tis only three days before the eve of Samhain. The warriors should be right here, at Dunscaith Castle, by now.”
“Aye, and what do ye have in mind?” Duncan saw the gleam in Darby’s eyes.
“Right here is where Griselda lives.” He drew a circle straight across from the castle before aiming the stick in the middle of the X. “If ye can gain the help of a few warriors, Colin and I will meet up with ye here.”
Duncan nodded. “If I leave now, and the beast cooperates, I should make it to Dunscaith before morn. Are ye sure this tonic willna make us sleep the night away?”
“Aye, I’m sure. Should only help to calm the both of ye. So dinna get inclined to do something foolish. Like going after the creature and Keara instead of headin’ for Dunscaith.” Darby took a hefty swig from his new bottle of spirits and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “C’mon, Colin, we might as well get a move on ourselves. We’ll have to travel the rest of the way by foot.”
Duncan gripped Colin’s shoulders. “I want ye to know, yer parents would be proud of ye. And I’m proud of ye.”
Colin beamed up at him.
“If anythin’ happens to me, I want ye to make me a promise. Ye must take Keara back home and help take care of her.”
Colin shook his hand. “I promise, Uncle.”
Darby gestured to Colin, indicating the direction to head, and stepped directly in front of Duncan. “Remember to keep yerself focused on the plan. I’m afraid a lot of lives are dependin’ on ye.”
Duncan strapped his claymore to his back. “Just make sure ye get Colin and Keara safely back to me sister’s if somethin’ happens.”
Chapter 22
“Go ahead, Grandmother, tell Keara what a terrible granddaughter I’ve been.” The woman cackled, making Keara cringe. The deep-purple hood covered the majority of her face. Except for the sarcastic sneer.
Keara recognized the hideous laugh of the sorceress—the same taunting voice that soundly vaguely familiar from her first encounter with the witch.
Griselda wrung her hands together and lowered her head, refusing to return Keara’s stare.
The stranger unfastened the elegant cape beneath her neck, and lowered the hood, exposing her face. Dark eyes, filled with icy contempt, shot Keara a contemptuous glare. A smirk was plastered across the sorceress’ face as she leered at Keara, waiting for her response.
“No!” Keara gasped, not believing her eyes. Her palms grew sweaty, and her stomach twisted in knots, unnerved by the uncanny resemblance. Growing desperate for a reasonable explanation, her voice rose in panic. “Please. Tell me this isn’t true. You can’t be Beth!”
The unhooded stranger, a woman resembling her own sister—and best friend—stood directly across from her, tossing her hair over her shoulders and stroking her fingers through her long black hair. She chuckled. With a cool stare, her face paled with anger.
A tremor in her voice, Griselda spoke, breaking the awkward silence. The old woman’s gaze appeared to be concentrating on someplace far away. “No, child, ‘tis not yer beloved Beth. ‘Tis my granddaughter, Gabrielle.”
“I don’t understand,” Keara mumbled. “They look identical.”
“Yer sister Beth is probably a descendant of our family. Many times it takes generations before an identical sibling is born.” Griselda’s face clouded with uneasiness, her eyes keeping focus on Gabrielle.
“That’s enough, old woman. You’ve said too much already,” Gabrielle scolded, picking a piece of bread from the table. “Why didn’t you keep her locked inside the chamber in the first place, like I told you to?”
“I willna stand by and help ye torture this girl. Haven’t ye done enough to bring shame to this family?” Griselda countered in anger, standing in front of Keara.
“I already told you why I brought her here.” Her face filled with disgust, Gabrielle turned her back to them making her way to the shelf lined with candles. “You foolish old woman, don’t worry. It’s not time for her to die. At least not yet.”
Keara grasped the necklace Griselda gave her, holding it tightly i
nside her palm, and shoved it deep inside the borrowed robe’s pocket in case Gabrielle might discover it. Her own temper flared and she blurted out in haste, not caring what the evil woman thought.
“No, Griselda, right now she needs me to be her bait for Duncan. Once she gets what she wants, then she’ll kill me.” She spied Gabrielle reaching for a dagger. “But there’s another reason I’m here, isn’t there?”
“You old hag. I tried to warn you earlier.” Gabrielle pointed the tip of the dagger to the middle of Keara’s throat. “I won’t tolerate your behavior much longer. And I’ll not permit this meddlesome witch to live in the same room. For the next few days, she can stay in the dungeon. Right where she belongs.”
Keara held her breath, waiting for the sharp tip to lance her throat. She sighed when Gabrielle turned and threw the dagger at the door. “How can you speak to your grandmother that way? I don’t understand you. What do you want from me, anyway?”
Griselda gripped her arm, trying to quiet her. “Ye’re only going to make things worse.”
Gabrielle turned, facing Keara with a smirk on her face. “You impudent little fool. Two days from now, it will be Samhain Eve. The very night I’ll gain everything that was rightfully yours. Fortunately for me, you’ve unwisely denied your powers. Then I’ll have everything I’ve waited for these past ten years. Including your beloved Duncan.”
Keara stood her ground. “He’ll never love you. He despises you.”
Gabrielle slapped Keara across the face, pushing her to the floor. The sound echoed in her ears.
Griselda stepped in front of Keara, shouting in defiance. “Ye may have taken over me home and everything held precious to me, but ye will not hurt this girl as long as I still draw breath.”
Gabrielle confronted her grandmother, raising her arm above her head, getting ready to strike the old woman. Gabrielle’s face twisted in anger and she suddenly paled. Gabrielle threw back her head, letting a blood-curdling scream escape her lips.
The front door suddenly swung wide open. Like a gale wind, the force was strong, pushing Keara and Griselda backward against the fireplace. Black smoke evolved, shrouding Gabrielle’s body. Like watching something trapped in the middle of a hurricane, Gabrielle’s cloaked body spun in circles and twisted out the entrance. The door slammed and bolted shut behind her. Snarling whimpers growled from the other side of the door.
“I must get ye as far away from here as possible before she returns.” Griselda handed Keara a cape.
“But aren’t you afraid she’ll hurt you? You certainly can’t stay here with her.”
“Ye dinna understand. I know why ye were sent here.” Griselda stared nervously at the door. “Ye were sent here to help save Elizabeth. Or as ye call her, Beth.”
Keara clutched the front of the cloak. Her mouth dropped open in disbelief, and she gripped one of the old woman’s shaky hands. “I don’t understand. How did Beth get here? Is she in some sort of danger?”
“Hurry, Keara.” Griselda’s face clouded with uneasiness. She wiggled her hands free and tugged anxiously at Keara’s arms. “I’ll explain once I get ye safely away from this house and away from her watchdogs. Now please, before it’s too late.”
Keara pulled the cape over her head, then Griselda grabbed her hand and led her out another exit. The roaring waves slapped against the rocks. Griselda led her down a steep and narrow stony path leading below the side of the cliff. Keara clutched the heavy robe to her chest to protect herself from the strong gusts of wind. She peered over the steep edge, the rocky cliff and ocean looming below. Griselda lowered her gaze to the ground and slowed her pace, warning Keara to watch her step.
Keara’s fears grew stronger than ever knowing Beth was in danger. Why didn’t Griselda mention Beth earlier? Something nagged at her brain. Something important she realized she needed to remember. The amulet! This all had something to do with one of the symbols on the talisman.
Griselda stopped abruptly. Keara lost her balance and grabbed hold of Griselda’s arm, keeping the old woman from falling. Griselda grimaced and put her fingers to her mouth. “Shhhh. I hear something.”
Keara couldn’t imagine hearing anything over the sounds of the waves and roaring winds. Thunder clapped overhead. Lightning lit up the sky, exposing two bodies in the far distance.
Griselda sighed in relief and smiled. She waited for another flash of lightning and waved her arms in the air. She turned and faced Keara. “Sit down, child. It will be a while before yer friends get close enough to fetch ye.”
“My friends? What about Beth? Please, Griselda, I need you to explain.” Keara bit her lip so hard that she tasted blood as she watched Griselda lowering herself to the ground.
“Elizabeth and Gabrielle were born twins on the thirteenth day of the seventh month. Their birth fulfilled an old prophecy of the seventh daughters born to a seventh daughter of a powerful sorceress ‘Twas foretold the twins would become powerful witches. One was to be good. The other evil.” Griselda picked up a small conch shell and held it to her ear. “Your grandmother was powerful beyond her time. With her help, the real Elizabeth was transported to the future. Your parents adopted her.”
“You mean my Beth? Does Gabrielle know about her? Is that why she’s in danger?” There were too many questions that needed to be answered. “And whose skeleton is that in the dungeon?”
“Gabrielle believes her twin sister Elizabeth died at birth. Her mother and I felt it better to keep the truth from her under the circumstances. The skeleton ye saw, ‘tis only the remaining shell of her goodness, I’m afraid. Her lust for power and evil destroyed every ounce of decency left inside her. ‘Tis that image of the good parts remaining that she tries to forget. ‘Tis the one nightmare that haunts her every day.”
“Where’s Beth now?”
“‘Tis part of the reason ye’re here, and a part of yer destiny. Ye need to help Elizabeth back to her own time before it’s too late. But first, ye must warn the Highlander named Duncan.”
Tight knots twisted in her stomach at the mention of Duncan’s name, bringing back her last memory of him lying facedown on the ground. “I wish I knew if he was still alive since your granddaughter shot one of her malicious arrows in his neck.”
“He still lives and is well. Gabrielle wouldna’ end his life that simply.”
Keara sighed, tears in her eyes. Relief and warmth spread through her body, hearing Duncan was safe. She stared at Griselda, baffled, trying to take everything in. “But how am I supposed to accomplish all these things you claim I can do when I don’t even know how to get back home myself?”
“The talisman brought ye here. It will take ye back to fetch Elizabeth.” Griselda leaned forward and strained to get up. Keara stood and helped her. “Yer friend Darby is half fairy, half brownie. He’ll know what to do. He’s waitin’ for ye over that ridge. Now go quickly, child, and dinna look back.”
“Darby?” She smiled, glancing in the direction Griselda pointed. By now, nothing surprised her when it came to the little man. “But wait. You need to come with us. We can’t leave you here now.”
“Aye, but ye must. I can fend fer meself.” She raised her hand and cupped the side of Keara’s face and smiled, showing her dimples. “Yer grandmother would be proud. Ye look so verra much like her.”
“Please, Griselda. Gabrielle will be angry once she finds you helped me to escape. She might hurt you when she gets back.”
“I’m too old to leave me home and family now. I can go to me grave now in peace, knowin’ my other granddaughter has a good chance of getting back to where she rightfully belongs. It’s too late for Gabrielle. She canna change now. I’m afraid we lost her a verra long time ago. I gave me solemn word I’d look after the twins with me verra life.” She hugged Keara and kissed both cheeks. “Go on now, child. ‘Tis destiny be callin’ fer ye.”
Darby and Colin’s voices called out to her.
Griselda cleared her throat and quickly stepped backward. Keara watched the old woman scurry up the steep hill all by herself, amazed at how agile the elderly soul moved at her age. An overwhelming burst of despair swarmed through Keara. She had a terrible feeling she’d never see Griselda again.
Colin and Darby raced down the steep bank, throwing their arms around her. Her emotions overwrought, more tears welled in her eyes, happy to see them and sorry to leave Griselda behind.
“Are ye all right, lass? We’ve been worried sick about ye.” Darby reached into his pocket and handed her a minty leaf. “Stick this under yer tongue. ‘Twill help calm yer nerves. I imagine ye be needin’ it ‘bout now.”
“I’m fine, Darby.” She glanced around, looking for Duncan. “How did you find me?”
“Griselda is a good friend of mine. I knew she’d make sure ye were all right. Duncan has done nothing but fret, pace, and worry about ye, lass. He’s gone ahead to the castle seeking help.”
Thunder clapped overhead. Keara flinched. A lightning bolt rocketed to the ground several feet away. Gabrielle’s wicked shrieks echoed overhead, sending chills racing up Keara’s spine. The earth rumbled beneath her feet as lightning lit up the sky. A cry and solitary scream raced to her ears.
